They Can't Take That Away from Me: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$24.95 USD

They Can't Take That Away from Me: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Name: They Can't Take That Away from Me: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-CDM00009
Price: 24.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / arr. Carl Strommen

Item: 00-CDM00009

$24.95

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The memory of this song will linger with any audience that hears it performed. Carl Strommen has done a masterful job of creating a choral setting for this classic solo by George and Ira Gershwin. This is a sentimental piece arranged with sensitivity, and requires some maturity and experience from its performing group.

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Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

UPC: 654979009184

SKU: 00-CDM00009

More about this title

About the Composer: George Gershwin

George Gershwin (1898–1937) bridged classical composition and American popular song in ways no composer before him had achieved. His ability to weave jazz idioms, blues sensibilities, and sophisticated harmonies into formally structured pieces made him a defining voice of the 20th century and a cornerstone of the American songbook.

For music educators, Gershwin's legacy matters because his music teaches students how vernacular and concert traditions can coexist and enrich each other. His melodies are instantly recognizable, his harmonies reward close listening, and his songs carry the emotional weight of genuine artistry, not commercial formula.

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Why we love this

Strommen's arrangement honors the intimacy of the original while opening it up for choral voices, a feat that requires real skill. The piece lands at that sweet spot where audiences recognize the melody immediately, but the choral texture and harmonic depth give singers substantial material to work with. Programming a Gershwin standard signals to an audience that your choir can handle both sophistication and sentiment.

What to expect

Bittersweet and reflective, this arrangement wraps you in the warmth of memory and presence simultaneously. The Gershwin melody glows with its signature charm, while Strommen's voicing adds depth and a touch of melancholy that makes the sentiment feel earned rather than saccharine.

Who it's for

This arrangement suits choirs with good blend, mature tone control, and experience navigating lyrical material with emotional nuance. Singers need to be comfortable with the text and willing to invest in conveying the nostalgia and tenderness at the heart of the song.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the lead melody line carefully. In a sentimental arrangement like this, one section carrying the tune too heavily will overshadow the others. Blend all voice parts into a cohesive sound rather than letting soloists dominate.
Honor the rubato suggested by Strommen's harmony. This isn't a piece that thrives on metronomic precision. Allow space for the emotional arc to breathe, especially at phrase endings.
Use the recorded accompaniment to internalize the harmonic and rhythmic framework, then work toward singing independently. The goal is to sing with the confidence of knowing exactly where you sit harmonically within the arrangement.

How to use it

Pair this as a closing piece on a concert of American standards or as a bridge between a theatrical set and more classical selections. Its recognizable beauty and sentimental character work well in variety programs or as a moment of reflection within a larger narrative arc.